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Thread ID: 75525	2007-01-01 19:17:00	How not to buy a DVD Hard Drive Recorder	Strommer (42)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
511782	2007-01-07 21:48:00	I am also in Masterton & agree with Steve L, in regard to the time frame of digital channels arriving here. I am considering buying a DVD Recorder & had used a friends Philips 80 GB one (with an EPG) to copy some VHS tapes to DVD. I found it to be frustrating to operate, to say the least! I am considering the Pioneer DVR H540H as I have not got HDMI & it will be about five/six years before I go LCD/Plasma. Anyone use the Pioneer, current or previous models? If so, comments on your experience with them please.	theoldfarter (1792)
511783	2007-01-09 01:22:00	This is the thead I was looking for and didn't even know it. I had already decided to stay away from Philips after my VCR. So how'dyou transfer material of your computer to the DVD's HD? Do you have to use a dvd as an intermediary? Or can your computer see the device's HD via firewire or usb?	teszeract (8723)
511784	2007-01-09 21:32:00	Cannot help with the two most recent postings but here is yet another item to consider when buying a DVD recorder: Will it accept DVD-RAM disks? Evidently these will allow more recording time than normal disks. It may be irrelevant in a way since the idea of getting a recorder with a hard drive is to avoid using disks. BTW, I ran across this page, on TIVO www.geekzone.co.nz After going to the TIVO link and reading a few pages, I see no advantage over getting a DVD recorder although it may cost a bit less there is a lot of hassle setting it up. And maybe it is illegal? Lastly, I notice that this thread is getting close to 2,000 page views. Many people out there wanting info on buying a DVD recorder!	Strommer (42)
511785	2007-01-09 21:50:00	My Panasonic DMR-E65 250GB Hard Disk Drive recorder won't accept video from my computer via the firewire connection. Only through the S_video input. Video recording and editing is my hobby and I edit on my Notebook. The only way I can get it onto the Panasonic HDD is to save back to tape, then firewire to Panasonic HDD - or, write to DVD and extract the DVD to Panny HDD. A real pain in the butt. I would never buy another recorder that can't accept from my computer. My mate has a Philips 160GB HDD recorder that recognises the computer - no problems at all. Read the first thread telling all the problems with the Philips 3455, but am not sure what model he has. Seems all brands have their different quirks. Ken	kenj (9738)
511786	2007-01-12 06:32:00	HI all I have just brought a sony rdr hx720 DvD Hdd recorder after reading all your comments. Some talked about the funtion to skip ads I cant seem to see anything about that and would like to know how to do it. Also so far am very dispointed not to have found afuntion that will allow mw to put groups of programmes in "files"ie kids shows, movies and etc.. I wait to hang off your every word?? Many thanks Macac	macac (11692)
511787	2007-01-12 07:06:00	I bought the Pioneer DVR 540H from Noel Leemings today. They had two in stock. One being used as a display unit & the other still sealed in it's box. I told them I was not interested in the display unit. When I opened the box & removed the contents, I noticed that the sellotape that is used to close the ends of the plastic bags that the remote control, cables, etc, came in had been undone & not stuck back. My suspicions were instantly aroused. I connected it up into my home theatre & found that the time & date were already entered in & correct. The tuner had been used, as TV channels had been saved. What The #$%@ I thought, this is not brand new! Upon closer inspection of the box, I found that it had two layers of tape securing the opening, one wider than the other but of the same shade of 'clear'. At the end, the wide piece had a Monaco sticker over it (on top of) with N/L Masterton address. The other layer, which was newer, was applied over the wider but came over the top of the address label. That means that it had been resealed at Masterton. I rang them & told them what I had found, informing them that I wanted a "brand spanking new one that no-one had used before". They said they did not know how it had happened but they would get me one in from their supplier. I keep this one until the swap-over. I have not had a fiddle yet but will report in as I do. I know nothing of the control system of the Sony HX 720, so can't comment.	theoldfarter (1792)
511788	2007-02-09 00:02:00	[edit: spam removed]	usednz (4885)
511789	2007-03-01 09:26:00	If you do buy a Philips DVD Hard Drive Recorder, which would be a very bad choice, get 5 year consumer protection insurance as well. I did these things 2 years ago. Recently it decided not to let me record more than 1 channel (ever), so I put in a claim and hey presto, "no parts available". Best $120 I ever spent. I opted for the cash settlement and will never buy another Philips anything. I can't begin to tell you what a stupid machine this was. The extreme opposite of user=friendliness - I think they must have made it that way for a joke. I'll buy the Sony RDRHX720 tomorrow. Thanks to you all for the helpful info.:lol:	Greebly (11693)
511790	2007-03-01 10:45:00	Well, I have had the Pioneer DVR 540H for a while now & am pleased with it. One grumble is that it won't play Divx/Xvid off a DVD (-/+ or RW). The manual says CD-R/RW & that's what it will accept for Divx/Xvid. A darn pain when one has a Divx/Xvid file larger than 702 MB, you have to convert it to DVD format & put it on a DVD disc, to view it. I have not used it for creating my own stuff yet, it is not much an interest of mine. I do love the commercial skip buttons, forward & reverse, they are first class! Timer setup is a breeze & do like being able to name what I am recording as I set it. The number/letter buttons on the remote allow you to enter letters like a cell phone. The Juke box function is good, but could be better as I have found that you can't choose for the recorder to play your stored songs randomly. But, it beats using a non-hard drive recorder/player to play songs, I can't ever see me going back to that. Good chase playback. It's great that I can watch a DVD whilst recording a TV program.	theoldfarter (1792)
511791	2007-03-01 11:06:00	The NZ Consumer Guarantees Act protects you for much longer than the one year manufacturers guarantee. For instance: you buy a 32 inch Philips wide screen CRT TV, that has the matchline tube in it & it cost $3500. Four years down the line, the tube blows & needs a complete new one. Under the Act, you would be entitled for a new tube at no cost to you, because the Act says that an item (taking into account the price you pay) must last a reasonable number of years, based on what reasonable people would expect the TV tube to last. Most higher spec CRT TVs are expected to last eight to ten years. On some, or most occasions like that, you may need to go to the Disputes Tribunal for that body to force the retailer to honour the Act. That act also says that manufactures must carry parts for six/seven years (can't remember the correct number) & if a new item could not have parts obtained for it after just two years, then a person has cause to have some sort of refund, as you did. I myself, have gone off all things Philips & Transonic & DSE & Digitor & Mustek & Cobalt ... the list goes on & on. LOL If you do buy a Philips DVD Hard Drive Recorder, which would be a very bad choice, get 5 year consumer protection insurance as well. I did these things 2 years ago. Recently it decided not to let me record more than 1 channel (ever), so I put in a claim and hey presto, "no parts available". Best $120 I ever spent. I opted for the cash settlement and will never buy another Philips anything. I can't begin to tell you what a stupid machine this was. The extreme opposite of user=friendliness - I think they must have made it that way for a joke. I'll buy the Sony RDRHX720 tomorrow. Thanks to you all for the helpful info.:lol:	theoldfarter (1792)
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